I am also toying with the idea of making a Ranchero out of the 50 Ford ! Any thoughts on this idea . I know they were made over seas but I love p/u and Ranchero ! I don't want a flat cut behind the front seat and do it that way but thinking of taking the roof and cutting the center out from side to side and bringing the front & rear together . The only problem I see would be a bubble looking top . Unless I make a short bed and have the front seat and extra space behind the seat similar to a cab & 1/2 truck . I guess maybe 2 to 3 extra feet behind the front seat for the spare tire , tools , speakers , and anything else to stick back there that would be in a trunk . I am open for all opinions bad or really bad and then maybe a tiny bit good ! I don't care how good they are or how bad you will bitch me out for cutting up a shoebox like that . I need HONESTY or I wouldn't ask ! Come on and give me your response, ideas and comments no matter how bad or good they can be to my crazy idea ! If there are some good books to get or a place on the internet someone knows about , please let me know . If this is going to be a major build I will just build the shoebox and enjoy it that way without any problems . I love the shoebox Ford so no matter what I do with it , it will be all mine to enjoys and put many miles on it 1 Thanks again for all the help in advance ! Retro Jim <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
I have been tosing the shoebox/ranchero idea around in my mind as well...I have a really rusty 4 door and some 2 door sedan doors for it... that one pictured above sure is nice I will see if I have any pics saved to add to the post.
That one is really nice and just what I am thinking of . I am thinking on something along that line but I am wondering how much fabrication is involved . I have never done a chop so I might have to leave the roof at factory height but I need to find one that I can get a much closer look at . Even some good pictures would work . Now what if I took the roof of an older pick up and used that for the roof or should I keep the 50 Ford roof line ? If someone has some different pictures of the rear section of the roof that would also be good too . Retro Jim
One of my personal favorites made by Joe Bailon. And the top is a lift of as well.... And still around today Another one
A friend of mine had one back in the '60's. It was done right, and I coveted it until he sold it (out of town).
This is a little off topic, but when I was trying to build a clone of Balions pickup from a model, I found that a 36 Ford 3 or 5 window coupe top skin with the back window, looked and fit pretty much like the real car. I cant remember in the old magazine articles what it said he used, or if it did.
I've got a 48 Ford truck roof you can have.....BUT I have my doubts on it working. both Maroon cars look like the roof may be from a mid 50's ford truck. What might be cool is a early 60's Chevy truck roof. Clark
Clark , I will have to stop down next week to take a look at the roof you have . I also need to talk with you about what I am looking into doing with it and see what you think . I have both a 49 & 50 Ford tudors so the options are there for one of them . I will still have my other shoebox that I want to keep as a hotrod or maybe build a gasser . Will have to think of the options and get something on paper so I have an idea at what I am looking at besides a ton of fab work Retro Jim
Jim You'd have to beef the chassis or come up with a rag top or hard top chassis but it would be smooth as silk with a carson style top. Just an idea off the top of my head.
Porknbeaner , Well to be honest with you , If I ever take away of the roof support from anything to rework it t all , I will will either "Z" the frame or Box in the frame totally so it can support all that weight when the roof support is removed . I would also make sure it had good jack stand in a few special places as well . I would also cross brace from front to back and side to side in a couple places so that nothing moves at all . That way I keeping in place and the lines will start in place hopefully ! There is a lot of structural material that would be removed when cutting the top off like that . Thanks you for the good point as well ! Retro Jim
I used to see a 58 Chevy that I believe started as a wagon around here in Sacramento. Was super cool and had a ton of potential. Haven't seen it in a few years though.
I forgot about this thread lol...gonna start tacking mine together this summer, thinking chopped 3 window slanted b pillars ..for a start Hoping to get a photoshop done
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